EastEnders: Lord Sugar searches for an Albert Square Apprentice

What will the tycoon make of Ian, Alfie, Billy and Masood when he visits Walford for a special BBC Children in Need episode?

This Friday’s Children in Need will see Lord Sugar seeking to hire a new Apprentice – but it seems that the shortlist features many of EastEnders’s most familiar faces.

So will the famously hard-to-please business boss be impressed by what Alfie, Billy, Ian and Masood have to offer?

“It’s not every day you find yourself in Albert Square giving Alfie Moon and Ian Beale a piece of your mind," Lord Sugar commented, “but it's been a really fun day, especially as it's for Children in Need, a cause that means a lot to me.”

Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon on the BBC1 soap, added: “It's always great to be a part of BBC Children in Need. We are on such a tight schedule at the moment filming for Christmas but everyone at EastEnders always pulls together to do something special for the big night. It is such a great charity and makes a real difference to so many children.

“Doing the sketch was great, we really enjoyed it. Lord Sugar is now working out how to become a regular in the Vic and I am working out how to become a Lord.”

See what Lord Sugar makes of Walford’s finest from 7.30pm on Friday on BBC1